College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Vikram is a graduate student studying phenotypic and genotypic diversity of Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2. As a research assistant, Vikram helps with laboratory-based analyses to evaluate pathogen population structure and disease development. He works with colleagues and lead PI Linda Hanson in the USDA Sugarbeet and Bean Research lab, supporting experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis related to plant disease management.

Vikram's current project involves Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2 also known as Sugarbeet Root Rot is a soil-borne, tissue-killing fungus belonging to a genetically diverse species complex. This fungus comprises genetically distinct lineages, in which the phenotypic differences remain unclear. When we evaluated cultural characteristics and soybean virulence across three genetic subgroups, we found that PR isolates grew faster than BR isolates on malt extract and corn meal agars, and Sclerotial characteristics correctly matched genotypes in all sclerotia-producing isolates, while growth rates matched 81% of unknown isolates.

Although virulence varied among isolates, has not differed significantly among genetic groups, suggesting cultural traits may help distinguish lineages.

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